Commutator



pag.18, 1925. K 1,550,528

. P. J. FITZGERALD COMMUTATOR Filed Feb. 12, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 18. 1925. 1,550,528

P. J. FITZGERALD COMMUTATOR Filed Feb. l2, 1925 2 Sheets-.Sheet 2 "umm t? www "mnu" Il l y "Illnnnmnnim raisniedaug. is,4 leze.

UNITED STA'!" PATE.

`GERALD MFG. CC., 0F waarnemen, NECTICUT.

CONNECTICUT, CCRPQRATION OF CGN- ooiamnrafron.

Application med February To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, PATRICK J. FrrzoifnaLD, a citizen of the United States, re- .siding` at Torrington, in the county of Litcln Alield, State ot Connecticut, have invented certain v'new and uselul Improvements in Commntators, of which the following is a description, reference being Ahad to the accompanying drawing and to the ligures oit' reference marked thereon. n y

r his invention relates to improvements in the construction and design otc-oniniutators, andmore .particularly to commutators of small size for use with electric motors for minor devices. n

One ot. the objects of Ythis invention is to provide'a commutator construction in which the several parts may be assembled by machine `operations in ai minimum time and With entire assurance against later displacements. y

Another object is tof provide acoinmutator construction in which 'the several conductive elements are heldin a 'rigid spaced relation to each other, andare permanently ine sul-ated trom the support.

A. further object is the provision ot a cominutator const-i'iiction in` which the several component parts may be readily and rapidly formed by machinery. Y y

A jlarther object is thefprovision'ot a com niutator Which is unitary in 'its general assemblage and is protected against physical disri'iption. I

lVith these and other objects in view as will appear in the 'course of the following description, there is representedbn the accompanying drawing a preferred Jform oit execution of this invention ot which:

lFigure v1 is an e'nd View of the assembled commutator Fig. 2 is a. side view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3 Fig. 2;

Fig. 4t is a cross section on the line le-4 ot Fig. l;

Figs. 5 and 5a are respectively an end elevation and an axial section through the formed insulating` body;

Figs. 6 and 6a are respectively a face View and an end elevation of a oommutator segment as stamped from a sheet;

Figs. 7, 7a and 7b are respectively a front View, a. side elevation, and a bottom view washers, to

12, 1925. Serial No. 3,800.

lof the same segments alter being preliminar'ily formed; j

Figs. tl and Se are respectively the end elevation and axial section el the metal sleeve which serves as a support upon the shatt to which the eommutator is finally applied;

Figs. 9 and 9 are respectively a tace view and an axial section ot one ot the metal assemble the commutator;

l() and l()n are respectively a side view and anV end elevation ot the insulatingfsleeve employed to separate the. segments :ein the metal sleeve; Y Figs. il and lla are respectively atace viev: and an atrial section of an insulating Washer;

Fig. 12 is a section on the line 12-12 ot Fig. 2, and

` ,u lf3 is a side elevation of a partly assembled comn'iutator.

`This vcommutator is constructed With a supporting bushing l ,ot insulating material, as shown in Figures 5 and 5a. These bush ings are constructed ot stout liber or similar material, and the first operation consists in gouging a series of 'regularly spaced notches 2, 2 on the internal surface ot the bi'ishing and at each end, equal in number to the segments desired in the linished comnnn tator. rFliese notches are termed with their bottoms on a slight curve, and terminating at the ends ot the sleeve in ivealrY vrebs 2 which are easily broken through in the operations'oi assembling.

rlhe commutator segments themselves are punched `from sheet copper by an ordinary punch press or similar device, into theshape shown in Figures 6 and 6a. The segment 3 has a projecting lug et atl one end, Which will lhereafter be designated as the tree.7 end, since it is the end farthest trom the armature when the device is assembled in a motor. A similar lug 5 at the armature end is separated from an attachment lug 6 by a thin kerlI or slit 7 which ordinarily is Jformed Without removing metal. rlhe attachment lug 6 is formed with a. notch 8 for a purpose Which will be set forth hereafter.

The segment blank is then curled in a punch press into the shape shown in Figures 7, "a and 7". The lugs 4 and 5 are bent downwardly and inwardly to somewhat more than right angles, as shown in Fig. 7a. In this shape, the segment is ready for asseinbly with the bushing l. lt is apparent that the segment blanks 3 may be cut and lormed at one operation ilc so desired.

n the operation of assembling the segments 3 in the insulating bushing il., the segments are placed or slipped over the edges oit the bushing, with their 'faces (nitivard7 and the lugs il, 5 pointing inward over the edges of the 1hashing and fitting into the notches 2. The loosely assembled member is then slipped. into ldie die ot appropriate size and a mandrel brought doivn to curl the lugs i7 5 inward and into the shape shown in Fig. il. lt is desirable in this operation or operations to leave the inner surface formed by the bushing l ind the legi l, o1" the several commutator segments as nearly cylindrical poss ile. The unit thus af sembled is not susceptible to disarrangement, since the con'nnutator sections have been l'irst held and later locked in predetermined and accurate positions by the engagement of the lugs d, 5 in the notches F2,

The next operation comprises the inser tion ot the split insulating sleeve li within the bushing l. Thel natural resiliency et the sleeve 9 causes it to expand and tightly.v lool; itself Within the unit asse inbly. The metal sleeve l() is then ilorced through this sleeve 5l until it projects a like distance at each end. An insulating Washer ll and a metal protectlng and stiitiening Washer ,l2 is then placed on each end o'l' the metal sleeve l0, and the ends ot the sleeve lO are spun over or riveted in any usual manner. The assembly ot the device is now complete as shown in TFigures l and 2.

rl`hc notches 8 in the edges of the segments protect a part ol the sur'lace ot the segment against oilincss during assembly, and renders it easy for the ivorlnnan to solder the armature leans to the segments.

The 'Form set forth in detail is `given solely by Way ot illustration. and any modification desirable may he made Within the scope ot the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, What l claim as nevv and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is-

1. In a commutator, a central insulating` bushing. a series o'l.z spaced connnntator segments mounted on and having their in- Wardly projecting ends turned under said bushing, insulation on the ends and inner surface ot said segments and bushing7 and a` central meta-l sleeve integrally locking said insulation in position.

Q. ln a commutator7 metal comnnitator segments having lugs at each end thereof, an insulating bushing having a plurality et spaced notches at each end thereot to receive and maintain in spaced relation the lugs of said segments.

3, ln a commutator, an insulating` hushin g having a` plurality oit spaced commutator segments gripping the said bushing at each i; nl? a layer o'l insulation Within said bushi and segnients7 an insulating Washer at end olf said liuishing and segments, and a metal sleeve clampingsaid Washers against aid segn'ients, said insulation. separating said segments and said sleeve.

4l. ln a commutntor7 a foundation insulating` sleeve having` a plurality of notches termed on its interior 'l'aee at the ends, and segment members having attachment lugs iforced into said notches and deformed by said sleeve.

5. rThe method of making commutator sliruclnrc which consists in providing the interior ot an insulating sleeve with a plurality olf spaced notches, placing a plurality ot pre-'formed commutator segments upon said sleeve and engaging in said notches, and svvairingi' the portions of said segments into fina nent location in said notches.

in a con'imutator, a foundation insulating sleeve having a plurality ot notches rmed on its interior tace at the ends, and

i nternal diameter sul'istantially equal to the nternal diameter oil2 the sleeve.

T. ln a. coinmutator, an insulating bushing l aving` a smooth cylindrical peripheral sur- 'iiace and notches on its internal surface adjacent the ends. a plurality ot segment members mounted on the peripheral surface ot said liushingv and havino their ends sivaged into the notches, and insulating means protecting the inward portions ot said. segment members.

In testimony whereof. .l al'lix my signature.

PATRICK J. FITZGERALD. 

